Blue Rainbow Aparthotels is investing £325,000 in a “niché” hospitality venture in Manchester: Tea 42 Restaurants.

Tea 42, which is set to launch later in the autumn, will create 20 jobs and offer customers an alternative tea room experience. The venue will serve a large selection of speciality, hand-blended teas, locally-sourced cakes and light refreshments.

The first café and tea room site will be located close to the group’s high street Aparthotel, near The Arndale Centre on Market Street, with 60 covers. Seating will be a mix of formal and casual, with some private booths available.

Produce has been sourced from local companies, such as Great North Pie Co. The venue will also have a gluten-free food menu, supported by eight locally brewed gluten-free beers.

Will Hannah, managing director at Blue Rainbow Aparthotels and Tea 42, said: “The new venue will be positioned as an alternative to other market-leading coffee houses and daytime refreshment bars. Tea 42 reflects what we have always been good at – creating a new niché by cherry-picking the best ideas in the market and combining them into something truly unique.

“Initially, we plan to launch Tea 42 sites close to our Blue Rainbow Aparthotels locations, which will allow guests to access refreshments with ease. However, in the future, there is also potential to roll Tea 42 out as a standalone venue in cities without our properties, as we feel the Tea 42 concept is so strong.”

Co-owned and run by Will Hannah and Jason Abbott, Blue Rainbow Aparthotels was founded in 2005.